BRUSSELS
The European Union has called on Turkey to begin negotiations on reforming the rule of law and fundamental rights in the country as part of its bid for accession to the 28-nation bloc.
The EU Commission said in a report released on Wednesday that Turkey's accession negotiations could be boosted if it advanced the requirements of chapters 23: Judiciary and Fundamental Rights and 24: Justice, Freedom and Security.
The report said: ''[Turkey’s] dynamic economy provides a valuable contribution to the prosperity of the European continent.
''The very serious developments in the region, in particular in Syria and Iraq, render cooperation on foreign policy issues even more crucial.''
Chapter 23 seeks impartiality and efficiency in the Turkish judiciary while Chapter 24 focuses on the implementation of migration laws granting protection for migrants.
'Roadmap for reforms'
The report went on: "Active and credible accession negotiations provide the most suitable framework for exploiting the full potential of EU-Turkey relations.
"Opening negotiations on the relevant chapters on rule of law and fundamental rights would provide a roadmap for reforms in these key areas."
The Syrian civil war has prompted a massive influx of Syrian refugees in Turkey, estimated to be more than one million.
While around 220,000 refugees live in 22 refugee camps in southeastern provinces in Turkey, another estimated 580,000 refugees are spread out across both refugee camps and major cities like Istanbul and Izmir, according to the EU's annual progress report.
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